Trench cover



Oct. 22, 1929. E. H. sTl-:LZER

TRENCH COVER Filed Nov. 25, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 V @Honing E. H. STELZER TRENCH COVER 4 sheets-sheet` 2 Filed NOV, 25

Oct. 22, 1929.

E. H. STELZER Oct. 22, 1929.

TRENCH COVER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov.. 25 1927 f-HQ 1,0.

- gig-.3."

-r-JJ AU` 7 .....v 6 L 9 U @lc o J U 7. 5 HOV f\ l/C, Q Q 7 J 7 Q 6 6 U m H C C U m w l) k 6 UU U 2 A (J 6 @1 E, E

Oct. 22, 1929. E. H. STELZER TRENCH COVER 1927 .4 sheets-sheet v 4 Filed Nov. 25

un m F JI Patented Oct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWIN H. STELZER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 MILTON F.. NAPIER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI TRENCI-I COVER This invention relates to trench covers, and hasufor its principal object the provision of a permanent device that may be employed as a temporary pavement or safety closure when placed over plumbers'I cuts, sewer trenches, new openings in streets to receive conduits o-r gas or water mains, or over excavations of like character, or pavements in course of construction. Traiiic can move without interruption or danger over cuts, trenches, and new openings that have been closed by the cover of this invention; and the use of barricades and red lights in connection therewith is obviated.

Other objectsand advantages, more or less ancillary to the foregoing, will appear in the course of the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention.

1n the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur, y

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of oneform of the cover, showing the normally depending legs, hereinafter referred to, in collapsed position; f s

l'igure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on'the line 2-2 in Figure 1, but with the legs depending;

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure L1 is a horizontal fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 1-#1 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a bottom view of another form of the invention, showing the depending legs in retracted position;

Figure 7 is a top view of the same;

Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal central sectional view of the same as it appears with taken materials that have been given the desired configuration in any suitable manner; but for the purpose of illustrating the invention, and not in a limiting sense, I have herein shown one form of a cover that is fabricated of sheet or plate steel, and another form that is formed of cast steel. In the plate-steel forni of the invention, exhibited in Figures 1 to' 5, inclusive, the device comprises a floor plate 1 that rises gradually from the edges toward the central portion so as to present a concave bottom and a convex top, the extreme marginal portions 2 preferably being fiat and the central portion 3 of the plate 1 being nearly flat, so that the rise is eifected along an ogee curve, the curvature adding stiffness to the plate. A wrought iron frame 4 is welded against the underside of the lat marginal portions 3 so as to form a depending marginal flange thereunder that adds rigidity to the plate 1. Three pairs of channel beams 5 and 6, 7 and 8, and 9 and 10, respectively, are welded to the bottom'of the plate 1 and extend laterally thereof, the pair of channels 5 and 6 being disposed at the middle of the plate u 1 and the other pairs each about two-thirds of the way from the middle in opposite directions. The channels of each pair are spacedy apart to accommodate therebetween the hinges of the pivoted side walls or doors that will presently be described. A pair of channel beams 11 and 12 extend longi tudinally along the underside of the plate 1, the said channels being preferably spaced as far from one another as they are from'tne 85 longer sides of the plate 1. The said channels 11 and 12 have their continuity interrupted by the intersection therewith of the laterally extending channels 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, and are, therefore, formed in sections that are-recessed to accommodate the said laterally extending channels and are preferably welded thereto and to the bottom of the plate 1. Channels 11 and 12 do not extend across from channel 7 to channel 8, and from channel 9 to channel 10, in order to allow room for the vertically extending channel-shaped brackets 13, whose flanges are riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the channels 7 8, 9, and 10. The brackets 13 Vare arranged in pairs alined in two rows that extend 'longitudinally of the plate 1 in proximity to the outer vend/s of the hinges 14 of the end walls 15. rlhe Y hinges 18 of side walls orudogors19 .pass

fio

around and pivot on the cotter pins 17. The

g lower ,faces 29 `of those portions of the channel bars that overliethe doors when the lat terV are folded thereagainst are disposed higher than, the planeof .thelower or bearing face 2l of the ilange 4, so that the doors or lcgs,' when collapsed against the plate 1, will not .project below theplane of the face 21.

Arlhedoors or legs 15 and.19 normallyde,- pend by gravity from the bottom of the plate 1 so as to form the vertical walls of a rectangular enclosure. Jtingle plates 22 connect or lock the end walls or legs to their adjacent side legs or` walls 19 andare slidably borne bythe walls 15 throughthe intermediacyof aT-shaped tongue 23,`whose neck 2 4 passes through a slot 25 in that flange 26 of plate22 that rides .on the wall 15, and, is suitably secured at its v*inner-"edge to the wall 15. f The flange 2T of plate 22that. rides on wall '19 -perforated by a slot 2S, that extends nearly 'from"theer lower to the upper edge of the iiange and is inclined so that its upper end is disposedcloser to the flange` 26 than its lower end. A stud 29 passes through the slot 28, and issuitably ysecured at its inner end to the side .plate19. rThe head 30 of stud 29 will pass through the enlarged ,lower end 31 of slot 28, but notthroughthe other portions thereof., To lock the end plates 15 to the side plates 19, the angle plates 22 are lifted so A that the heads 30 of the studs 29 will pass through the slot enlargements 31, and are then lowered,'the shapksornecks of studs 29 entering the' upper obliquely disposed,constricted portionjof the slots 28, whereby the end plates 15 are drawn o'r wedged tightly against the adj'acentjends of the side plates 19, thereby forming a rigid box-likestrueture. Theend platesorjmembers 15 areextended longer than the side members19 at 4their middle lportions,

V the entended 4portionshaving "obliquely posed si'desBQ connect-ed an arcuate end 83, thereby forming a skidto enable the cover to be easily set overa trench or excavation. The Aplates V15 and 19 preferably are provided witl'rperforations 341to"receive nails or other attaching devices whereby additionalmeans, such as suitable lumber or the like, for bracing the'sides and ends of'a trench may be secured thereto. l

' A device is provided on the bottom of the plate 1 to hold the pivoted members 15 and 19 in the folded compact position shown in Figure 1, so that transportation and handling of the cover from one job to another is facilitated. This device consists of a plate 35 bent to 'channel or U-shape to provide a pair of parallel flanges 85 connected by an inten vening web 37 at one end and having outward- `lyeirtend'ing lateral 'li'anges 38 'at their 'other ends.` vWeb' 37 is pivotally connected at 39 to the center of the underside of the plate 1. Not'ches 40 are formed in the inner edges of the legs19 so that the legs 19 will clear the plate 35 when the latter is turned at right angles to the position in vwhich it is shownin Figure 1. )Vl/ith plate 35 turned kat right angles to the position shown in FigureA 1, the doors :15,can be folded against the plate 1, and door 19 'then folded against the doors 15 as shown in Figure 1, and the doorsA may then be lockedd in this collapsed position by turnf ing yplate 35 to the position shown in Figure 1, for, Awith the lock 35 so positioned, the

rlangesrl of lock 35 intercept the edges 41V ofthe notches 40 and thereby prevent the opening of the ,doors 19, wherebythe opening of the doors .15 is in turn prevented. The edge portions 41 are bowed to pass behind the flanges ,88; and the lower flanges 42 of the channel Ybars aand G are bowed at 43 to aci' commodatethebowed edge portions 41 of the doors 19, sothat neither the doors 9 and 15, norithe device 85 projects below the plane of the bottomffa'ce .of the marginal base tlange 4. i vWhen the cover is in the collapsed vposition shown in Figure 1, it can be placed over a newlymade concrete pavement as aprotection4 to. the `pavement ,while the concrete is setting. VThe cover is Ipreferably held in place over the concrete by means of two rods, set intothehconcrete base and bolted to the cover. Portionsfof the upper face of the cover are depressed or countersunk to accom modate nuts for the threaded upper ends of the said rods. In therplate steell embodiment ofthe invention, the depressed, face or bearingforthe nuts is provided by forming holes 44 in the plate 1 through which the k nuts can be passed, and securing a bracket 45 to the underside of the plateA 1 under each of the holes 44., The nuts react against the webs 46 of the brackets 45; and the threaded'ends of the rods pass through holes 47 in the webs 46. After the coveris removed from the finished'repair, ythe rods or anchor bolts can becut oli" Hush with the pavement.

A series of holes 48 are provided in ythe marginal .portions 2 of the plate 1 to receive suitable attaching y devices, such as spikes to fasten the cover to the lpavement after the repair is madeand the cement base is setting, or bolts to secure a plurality of such coverstogether in series'7 as be necessary to cover along trench.

It will be observed that the doors 9 and me la) 15, when they are locked in their depending position, as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 5, co-operate with the sides of a trench to prevent lateral shifting of the cover under constant impact of heavy trucks and busses, and they, also, serve to line and reinforce the walls of a trench or excavation and thereby prevent the top edges or other fragile portions of the said walls from caving in. The gradual rise of the top of the cover from its edges, moreover, insures that vehicles passing thereover will not be unduly jarred or swerved from their courses. The top face of the plate 1 is preferably rough or covered with anti-skid conformations to prevent skidding of vehicles passing thereover. If the cover be fabricated of plate steel, as shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, the plate 1, for this reason, is preferably formed of rolled steel plateof the safety tread type.

In the cast steel cover illustrated in Figures 6 to 11, inclusive, the marginal base flange 49 and the reinforcing webs or ribs 50 are cast integral With the top plate 51. The marginal holes 52 pass through recessed or countersunk portions 53 of the plate 51, thereby affording an even bearing for the heads or nuts of bolts that pass through the holes 52. The upper corners of the end legs 54 and side legs 55 present lugs or ears 56 that are pivoted to lugs or ears 57 cast integral with the plate 51. The middle portions of the upper edges of legs 54 and 55 present ears 58, having therethrough openings 59 that register with openings 60 in ears 61, cast integral with plate 51, when the legs are extended in their depending positions, as shown in full lines in Figure 8 and in dotted lines in Figure 10. Pins 62, when inserted through adjacent alined openings 59 and 60, secure the legs 54 and 55 in their depending positions. When the pins 62 are removed from the openings 59 and 60, the legs may be folded against the plate 51, as shown in Figures 6, 10, and 11, and secured in this retracted position by means of the plate 63, pivoted to stud 64, held in a boss 65, cast integral with plate 51. INhen plate 63 is turned to the position shown in Figure 6, its ends underlie the adjacentportions of the side legs 55, thereby sustaining the legs 55 in a horizontal position; and protuberances or lugs 66, cast integral with the end legs 54, project therefrom so as to ovcrlie legs 55, thereby retaining the legs 54 in their horizontal position. Manifestly, if plate 68 is turned to a position at right angles to the position shown in Figure 6, it will be disengaged from the legs 55, thereby allowing legs 55, and consequently legs 54, to drop to their depending positions. Plate 51 courves or bulges upwardly at'67 over the ears 58 and 61 to provide clearance for the ears 58 without unduly raising the level of the top face of the plate 51. Openings 68 are cast in plate 51 to lighten the plate and, also, to provide anti-skid conformations on its upper face. Bulges 67, also, form anti-skid conformations. Plate 51 presents a pair of depressed portions 69 to provide a countersunk face for nuts for threaded rods that may be passed through the openings 70 in the depressed portions 69 and imbedded in a newly made concrete pavement thereunder to hold the cover in position thereover until the pavementhas set. l

Having thus fully described this invention, I hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of parts, as it is evident that many minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the following claims.

l I claim:

' 1. A coverof the character described having a plurality of hinged members adapted to depend therefrom to cooperate with adjacent Walls to keep the cover within proper bounds.

2. A cover of the character described einbodying Walls adapted to be collapsed against the cover and to be extended te line the sides of an excavation.

3. A `cover of the character described having a plurality of members pivoted thereto so that they may be folded toward the underside of the cover and toward the walls of a trench covered thereby so as to cooperate with the walls tokeep the cover within lateral limits. l

4. A cover of the character described having a plurality of plates pivoted thereto so that they may be folded toward the undersideof the cover and toward the-sides of a trench covered thereby.

5. A cover of the character described embodying means adapted optionally to be collapsedv against the cover and to be extended along the sides' of an excavation and means for ylocking the said means from being shifted from a selected position.

6. A cover of the character described embodying oppositely disposed walls pivotally depending therefrom so that they may be swung toward one another,v and means pivoted" to vthe cover intermediary of said Walls and adapted when in 'one positionl to clear said walls when they are swung toward and from their depending position, and in another position to obstruct the said swinging movement, thereby to lock the walls from returning to their depending position.

7. A cover of the character described embodying a plurality of walls pivoted thereto so that they may be swung toward the cover and extended therefrom to form corners between adjacent walls, and means for locking adjacent Walls together.

8. A cover of the character described embodying a plurality of walls pivoted thereto so that they may be swung toward the cover and extended therefrom to form corners between adjacent walls, a slotted Iplate slidably borne by'one 'otV said wal-ls, and a projection borne by an adjacent wall and adapted to engage said slot, the conforma-A tions of the projection and slot being such that, when the walls are extended, the plate will be interlocked with the projection when the plate is in one position, but will not be interlocked when in another' position.

9. A cover for the purpose set forth com#- prising av tloor member that rises 'gradually from the edges toward the center so-as lto present a concave bottom and a convex top., and wall members connected to thel iioor member so that they may be extended below the iioor member and retracted into 'the concavity of the floor member.

10. A cover for the purpose set forth that rises gradually trom the edges toward the center so as to present a concave bottom and a convex top andembodies a marginal reinforcing` iange on its under side.

1l. A cover for the p-urpose set forth having reinforcing webs on its under side and a plurality of walls pivoted thereto between said webs, so that they may be extended downwardly and retracted above the lower edge of the webs.

l2. A cover of the character described bearing shittable means adapted in one position to engage the side of an excavation to limit lateral movement of the cover, and in another position to be ineffective in limiting such movement.

13. A cover of the character described bearingmeans pivoted thereto so that when said means is in one position it co-operates with the side of an excavation to limit laterai movement of the cover, and when in another position it is ineffective in limiting such movement.

14. A cover of the character described bearing retractile means on its bottom adapted to be extended from thevbottom into a position wherein it co-operates with the side of an excavation to limit lateral shifting ofthe cover.

l5. A cover of the character described having a recessed bottom and bearing means retractile into the said recess and adapted to be extended from its retracted position so `as to co-operate with the side ofan excavation to limit lateral shifting yof the cover.

In testimony whereoi:` I hereunto affix Amy signature.

'EDWIN H. STELZER. 

